New Lee 309-150F-30 mold for 30:30

[cwheel]

Got a new 150 gr lee mold to try with my 30:30. It's a lee 309-150F-30, a gas check mold, one of the new designed molds. Have limited powder on hand, IMR3031, H335, 2400, AA2200 until this shortage is over. I've cast up 250 or so, sized to .309, lubed and installed the gas checks. I've seen plenty of posts here with people having great luck loading in the 170 gr. cast range, but not much on the 150's. Wondering what loads folks have had good luck with of the powders listed. Some ideas of what works could help save me some time working this one up. I'm sure that there are better powders out there for this, but this is what I've got to start out with. Any ideas ?? Got lots of good Lee molds in the past, cast 10's of thousands of boolits with them, and the price was right. This mold needed the most work of any mold I've ever bought. The system to align the blocks is different, doesn't work well. Lots of rework and burr removal on the blocks before the first use. Had to bend the lite handle metal going through the blocks just to get better alignment. With the lee drip-O-matic turned all the way, still couldn't get boolits to drop well from these blocks. All that said, for $20 for a two hole, what can I expect. Dressed boolits from this mold weighed in @152gr. and stayed within 1gr. for the run. Any load ideas would help, thanks,
Chris

[imashooter2]

I shoot a lot of this boolit. 15.5 grains of 2400 gives just over 1,700 fps and superb accuracy in my Marlin 30AS.

[cwheel]

Don't know why, but all 4 of the reloading manuals I have don't start listing 2400 until you get into 170 gr boolits. I have plenty of 2400, might start the workup with your 15.5 gr. load. Might go over to the powder web site and check what's listed for cast there as well. Thanks,
Chris

[imashooter2]

Alliant listed 16.0 of 2400 maximum under a 150 grain cast bullet in the Silhouette section of their free manuals for many years. I've tried the 16, but got better accuracy at 15.5.

[GabbyM]

Lyman 4th edition list data for the Lee 150gr boolit.

2400 start 14.0 gr at 1605 fps max 17.0gr at 1849 fps. I tried 16.0gr of 2400 under my Saeco 150gr but didn’t really like it much.

I shoot a Saeco 150 gr over 26.0 grains of RL 7. Great shooter from my Win 94. If it were me I’d give your AA-2200 a go.

[cwheel]

I do have the AA free reloaders guide book with a 2200 insert page. Guess I could start well below the listed 30gr. Scary pressure though 40,000 at 30.0 gr. At 30 gr the listed speed runs 2330 fps. Want a full power hunting load, but I think 30 gr. is a bit much for cast. Sure to be lower pressure at around 26.0gr. 40,000 is not where I want to run a 1940 model 94, even though it's in good condition.
Chris

[Gray Fox]

imashooter2: What diameter did you size those to for the Marlin. I have the mold and the 2400. Thanks, GF

[imashooter2]

I size at .311 for my microgroove barrel that slugs right at .308.

[GabbyM]

I do have the AA free reloaders guide book with a 2200 insert page. Guess I could start well below the listed 30gr. Scary pressure though 40,000 at 30.0 gr. At 30 gr the listed speed runs 2330 fps. Want a full power hunting load, but I think 30 gr. is a bit much for cast. Sure to be lower pressure at around 26.0gr. 40,000 is not where I want to run a 1940 model 94, even though it's in good condition.
Chris
Data sheet on 2200 I have downloaded is for the old powder, I think. Which is what I have a jug of. Start load for a 150gr SPR FN is 27.0 grains for 2090 fps. 30.0gr shows 2322 fps and 40,200 psi. Just quickly looking at that 26.0 grains under a 150 cast looks about right for a start.

Personally don’t like to load my 30-30 too host simply because case life shortens.
Btw Max load for H-335 under Lee 150gr FN in 30-30 is 30.8gr for 2,213 fps at 36,600 C.U.P.

[cwheel]

Thanks GabbyM, I've got a full unopened 8lb. of the H335 and I like the slightly lower pressure. Thinking about loading that one first, give it a try working up from 28gr. Also, I know H335 goes through the Dillon powder measure well. Where did you pull up the H335 load ?? Looks like I need more loading books for sure at this point, guess the 4 I have aren't enough. I like setting up the Dillon for this short first run VS running on the single stage.

[GabbyM]

Thanks GabbyM, I've got a full unopened 8lb. of the H335 and I like the slightly lower pressure. Thinking about loading that one first, give it a try working up from 28gr. Also, I know H335 goes through the Dillon powder measure well. Where did you pull up the H335 load ?? Looks like I need more loading books for sure at this point, guess the 4 I have aren't enough. I like setting up the Dillon for this short first run VS running on the single stage.

Lyman 4th edition handbook. it has data for the Lee #C309-150-F in a few 30 caliber chambering's.
I use that data for my Saeco 150-FN. Results are a bit different but close enough for a start point.

This 8lb jug of old AA 2200 I have was from back when you could get it for about $45. I never liked it under my 50gr 223 load as SD was high. Have thought with heavier 30 cal bullets and the large rifle primers ignition may be better. After all it is 7.62 x 39mm powder. But I've not tried it yet.